WHITE SOX NOTES: Floyd goes on 15-day DL

CHICAGO – The good news for White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd is he knows how to work back from an arm injury.

But Floyd couldn’t hide his disappointment after being placed on the 15-day disabled list before Sunday’s 8-3 loss to the Rays because of a flexor muscle strain in his right arm. Floyd landed on the DL last season with the same injury and also missed time last year with elbow tendinitis.

The injury happened in the third inning of Saturday’s loss against Tampa Bay. Floyd is 0-4 with a 5.18 ERA in five starts this season. The Sox recalled reliever Deunte Heath from Triple-A Charlotte.

“Any time you have something like this, it’s out of your control,” Floyd said. “You try to prevent these as much as possible with work and stretching, and when it happens, there’s always that processing of things.”

Manager Robin Ventura said the MRI did not reveal any torn ligaments and as far as he knew, Floyd’s arm didn’t bother him before Saturday night. Floyd is the third Sox pitcher to go on the DL, but Ventura isn’t concerned the injuries stem from something the Sox are doing wrong.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with the way they are training,” Ventura said. “It’s just part of playing baseball. It’s not a natural act. ... Hopefully, they get over it quick.”

After Sunday’s loss, the Sox also optioned outfielder Blake Tekotte to Charlotte. A corresponding move will be made before Tuesday’s game at Texas.

Danks ready for rehab start: John Danks’ journey back to the Sox’s rotation is one step closer.

Danks (left shoulder) will make a rehab start Thursday at Double-A Birmingham after spending the past month in Arizona for extended spring training. Danks said the Sox haven’t told him how many rehab starts he will need to make before getting activated from the DL, but he expects it will partly depend on how he is feeling.

“In extended [spring training], it’s like a high school scrimmage,” Danks said. “It’ll be fun to get out there and pitch in an atmosphere.”

Although he wasn’t sharp in his last extended spring training start, Danks said it had nothing to do with how his shoulder felt.

“I haven’t been feeling anything the last couple days, and certainly not whenever I’m pitching, so I’m making improvements,” Danks said. “ … I felt good, had decent stuff. It was just an early morning after flying the night before so it was a little tough, but it wasn’t bad.”

Konerko hit a two-run homer off Tampa Bay’s David Price in the third inning Sunday to give the Sox a 3-1 lead. The home run snapped a 65 at-bat homerless streak for Konerko at U.S. Cellular Field.

Konerko is 10 for 20 in his career against Price during his career, with two home runs and six RBIs. His homer tied him with former Cub Billy Williams for 45th all-time with 426 home runs. He needs to hit 30 more homers to surpass Frank Thomas for first in Sox history. Konerko said tying Williams is cool, but he won’t reflect on milestones until his career is over.

“Facing some good pitching, you just have to strap it on,” Konerko said. “So I’m not thinking too much about that kind of stuff, because I know the guy on the mound doesn’t [care].”